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The Road to Mont-Blanc

The Road to Mont-Blanc

posted on
September 9, 2014

The high mountains are a mysterious and unpredictable place offering a moment of escapism to experience life amidst a journey of new and unknown limits. On August 4th 2014 Mavic road ambassador Mike Cotty faced his toughest challenge yet, a 1,000 kilometre non-stop journey across the Dolomites, Eastern Alps and Swiss Alps including 21 mountains and over 21,000 metres of climbing, or the equivalent of ascending Mount Everest nearly 2.5 times in a single ride. Battling adverse weather conditions in the Dolomites and a punishing headwind for the final 500 kilometres meant that Mike had go above and beyond the realms of normality to overcome sleep deprivation from over 50 hours of continuous cycling whilst battling the elements on The Road to Mont Blanc from Conegliano, Italy, to Chamonix, France.

“Quite how I’ve actually made it to this point sometimes eludes me”. Mike said. “In some respect I guess it’s all part of the evolution of growing old, the years roll by and it’s only when you take a second to breathe that you can retrace the road at which you’ve travelled along with your own reflection that makes you realise just how much of your soul belongs in the heart of what you truly believe in. Exploration opens up a whole new world beyond physical and mental expectations of one’s self. Despite years of training, sacrifice and preparation there really is no certainty as to where or when the limit will occur. For me, that is the essence of exploration. It’s a beautiful metaphor for life. I mean, if you don’t try how will you ever know?”